Elleasse Taylor is an associate in Best Best & Krieger LLP's (BBK) Municipal Law practice group. She represents a range of public and private clients throughout California and beyond on matters involving local, state, and federal laws, statutory compliance, civil disputes, and more. Elleasse’s versatile practice allows her to provide clients with a full suite of services covering everything from contracts, ethics, and accessibility to real estate, water, and informational technology.
Elleasse serves as deputy general counsel to the Chino Valley Fire District and the Arrowhead Lake Association. She also serves as legal counsel for the City of Ontario Community Life & Culture Department as well as the City of San Bernardino Planning Commission and Charter Review Committee. Elleasse also frequently engages with outside legal organizations as a member of the California Lawyers Association and Public Law Association.
Elleasse joined BBK as a summer associate in 2021 and then again as an associate after graduation. Prior to joining BBK, Elleasse served as an extern with the California Department of Justice Civil Rights Enforcement Division where she worked on workplace discrimination and harassment lawsuits. Throughout law school, she volunteered with the University of California, Irvine Law School Criminal Justice Clinic, where she drafted successful compassionate release motions on behalf of clients.
Outside of work, Elleasse enjoys baking and ranking horror movies.
Sydnei Jones is an associate in Weil’s Tax Department and is based in Washington, D.C. Sydnei participates in the representation of Firm clients with respect to the tax aspects of a wide range transactions, including matters involving domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, REITs, joint ventures, restructurings and financing transactions.
Sydnei has been a part of the teams advising:
- A major financial institution, as administrative agent and lead arranger, in a $1.25 billion senior unsecured revolving facility for Hasbro, Inc. and Hasbro SA
- CIBC Capital Markets, MUFG, RBC Capital Markets and TD Securities, as joint book-running managers and representatives of the underwriters, in a $1.3 billion investment grade bond offering by The Williams Companies, Inc.
- Citi, Truist, Wells Fargo and another financial institution, as representatives of the underwriters, in a $2.1 billion offering of senior notes by The Williams Companies, Inc.
- The dealer managers in a $3.65 billion exchange offer by Microsoft Corporation of new 144A / RegS unsecured senior notes and cash for unsecured notes of Activision Blizzard
- Deutsche Bank, J.P. Morgan, Mizuho and Morgan Stanley, as joint book-running managers and representatives of the underwriters, in a $1.5 billion investment grade bond offering of The Williams Companies, Inc.
- Diversified Healthcare Trust, a real estate investment trust in a $941 million offering of zero coupon senior secured notes due 2026
- Hayfin Capital Management, as lender, in its senior secured term and revolving facility for Covis Finco S.À R.L. and Covis US Finco, LLC
- JPMorgan Chase, as administrative and collateral agent, lead arranger and joint bookrunner, in its upsized $2.75 billion senior secured term and revolving facility for Clarios Global LP (a subsidiary of Brookfield Business Partners)
- Lineage Logistics, LLC in its $208 million acquisition of Turvo Inc.
- Office Properties Income Trust in its $300 million 144A/Reg S offering of 9.000% senior secured notes due 2029
- Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan in $820 million first and second lien facilities to finance its acquisition of Vantage Elevator Solutions
- OUTFRONT Media, Inc., representing the initial purchasers, in a $450 million senior secured 144A/Reg S senior secured notes offering
- Susquehanna Growth Equity in its acquisition of a minority stake in Sawhorse Media LLC (d/b/a Muck Rack Software LLC)
- Trebia Acquisition Corp., a SPAC sponsored by affiliates of Trasimene Capital Management and Bridgeport Partners, in $450 million senior secured revolving and term facilities to finance its $1.4 billion business combination with System1, LLC and Protected.net Group Limited (together with Trebia n/k/a System1)
- WEX Inc. in its repurchase of $310 million in principal amount of its convertible senior notes from WP Bronco Holdings, LLC and its $1.4 billion incremental senior secured term and revolving facility
- Willis North America Inc. (a subsidiary of Willis Towers Watson PLC) in its $750 million senior unsecured notes offering
Sydnei is also actively involved in the Firm's pro bono efforts, including work with the Innocence Project. Sydnei is also the D.C. Co-chair for the U.S. Branch of the International Fiscal Association's (IFA) Young IFA Network (YIN).
Prior to joining Weil, Sydnei was Tax Counsel at 3M.
Sydnei received her LL.M and a Certificate in International Tax, with distinction, from Georgetown University Law Center, her J.D. from The University of Iowa College of Law and her B.A. from Mount St. Mary's University.
Admissions
Education
- Mount St. Mary's University (B.A., 2016)
- The University of Iowa College of Law (J.D., 2020)
- Georgetown University Law Center (LL.M., 2021)
Blair is an Associate in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office.
Before joining the firm, Blair served as a law clerk to the Honorable Carl E. Ross in the Civil Division at the District of Columbia Superior Court.
While in law school, Blair served as a Law Fellow at the NAACP, assisting the Association in voting rights, redistricting, and civil rights litigation.
Outside of the law, Blair is an avid sports fan and film enthusiast.
Court Admissions
- District of Columbia
- Maryland
Markus Louis’ practice focuses on advising public and private companies on a wide range of transactional and corporate matters, including formation, early- and late- stage financings, mergers and acquisitions and general corporate governance matters.
In particular, Markus has been involved in numerous mergers and acquisitions matters within the technology and energy sectors.
Education
- Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 2022
- Northwestern University, B.A., 2019
BAR ADMISSIONS
Jennifer Dickey is an associate in Dykema’s Chicago office. She advises organizations on artificial intelligence, data privacy, and related regulatory compliance matters. Jennifer assists clients in navigating complex privacy frameworks, developing practical compliance strategies, and implementing proactive risk management programs to align business operations with evolving legal and regulatory requirements.